Issue link: https://www.hub.camaf.co.za/i/607020
11 WE ALL NEED SOMEONE SOMETIME. OR DO WE? The human condition is a complex and variable state. We are all unique, complicated beings. for many of us, peer-support can be very helpful when we attempt something challenging – army structures, sports teams, addiction groups, and study groups are all examples of how this can work. The weight-loss industry includes several support-group based programmes where people come together, usually weekly, to help each other lose weight. These can be quite valuable but please be careful in a few areas: • humiliAtioN. public weigh-ins should be handled with great sensitivity. Success can be celebrated but failure and difficulty should NEVER be ridiculed. • fAD Diet plANs. be wary of any group that uses "unusual" or "odd" diet plans. Warning signs usually include replacing food with powders or tablets, limited foods, unbalanced diets, etc. These are often unproven and can be unhealthy. • sAles. be very careful of programmes that try to sell you products (books, scales, milks shakes, vitamins, etc.). Some may be valid enough but there is a lot of exploitation out there. ...and remember, peer-support and sharing challenges is not necessarily for all of us. If you think it's for you, great, by all means consider joining a group. If not, that's fine too. I JUST WANT A TAbLET pLEASE DOC This is a common request. Many people are so desperate to lose weight, but have struggled for so many years, that they have come to believe the answer lies in some form of medical help. Let's be clear on one thing here; there are some people whose weight is caused by medical conditions (thyroid and other hormonal problems most commonly) but this is very rare and so for the purposes of this programme, we'll ignore it (please do check with your doctor though) and take the view (correctly) that we are overweight for reasons that are "lifestyle" and not "medical". That being sorted out, some people still look to their doctors for medical help with weight loss. This area can become rather complex, and medical science is ever changing. Here is a short summary of weight-loss-from-your-doctor: